For the previous few days, the United States Senate Armed Services Committee has been listening to on the conclusion of navy operations in Afghanistan and planning future counter-terrorist operations on Capitol Hill. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, together with General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Frank McKenzie of the US Central Command, transient the Senate behind the scenes of their first public congressional testimony because the Taliban received Huh. battle in august
Here are the highlights:
Afghan fallout contained in 2020 take care of Taliban, says US basic
Senior Pentagon officers mentioned in August the collapse of the Afghan authorities and its safety forces may be traced again to the 2020 Doha settlement with the Taliban, which promised a full withdrawal of US forces.
US navy presence was pushed beneath 2,500 as a part of President Joe Biden’s choice in April to finish a full withdrawal by September, General McKenzie mentioned, intensifying the disclosure of the US-backed Afghan authorities. “The signing of the Doha Agreement had a really damaging effect on the government of Afghanistan and its military—psychological more than anything, but we set a date—when we were going to leave and when they could expect all the help.” The finish,” mentioned McKenzie.
Military commanders wished to have not less than 2,500 troops in Afghanistan
One of probably the most vital proof got here from navy generals who advised lawmakers that that they had really useful preserving 2,500 troops in Afghanistan, which Biden disagreed with. However, the White House defended the president’s choice, admitting that it was a divided suggestion of Biden’s advisers and generals.
“I cannot share my private suggestion to the President, however I gives you my trustworthy opinion, and my trustworthy opinion and perspective formed my suggestion. I really useful that we preserve 2,500 troops in Afghanistan. really useful within the fall of 2015 that we preserve 4,500 at the moment. Those are my private views,” General Frank McKenzie told senators. In an August interview, Biden denied that his commanders had made the recommendation, saying : “No. Nobody advised me that I can bear in mind.”
The collapse of the Afghan military ‘shocked us all’
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin advised Congress that the sudden collapse of the Afghan navy “surprised” the Pentagon, as navy leaders confronted a contentious Senate listening to over how and why the US misplaced its longest battle.
Austin, a former four-star basic who served in Afghanistan, advised the Senate Armed Services Committee, “The fact is that the Afghan army we trained and our allies simply melted away – in many cases without firing a shot.” – shocked us all.” . “It can be dishonest to assert in any other case.”
When requested why the United States didn’t foresee the speedy collapse of the Afghan military, General Milley mentioned that in his choice the US navy misplaced the power to see and perceive the true scenario of the Afghan forces when it had taken a number of years again. This observe was terminated. To have advisors with the Afghans on the battlefield. “You can’t measure a human heart with a machine, you have to be there,” Milley mentioned.
Confidential data on the connection of Pakistan and ISI with Taliban
The protection secretary and two high generals advised senators that Pakistan and its spy company ISI’s ties with the Taliban can solely be mentioned behind closed doorways. In the general public area they will solely say that the connection between the 2 is changing into extra difficult after the return.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks throughout a Senate Armed Services Committee listening to on the conclusion of navy operations in Afghanistan and planning for future counter-terrorism operations on Capitol Hill in Washington, US September 28, 2021. Patrick Semansky / Via The Pool
When senators requested questions on latest information reviews from Pakistan’s intelligence wing, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Austin advised members of the committee, “The in-depth conversations about Pakistan will probably take place in a closed hearing here. would be better.” The navy and its relations with the Taliban. General Milley and Mackenzie mentioned the identical factor.
Military official says Afghan battle was a ‘strategic failure’
General Milley known as the 20-year battle in Afghanistan a “strategic failure”.
“The outcome in such a war, the result of a strategic failure – the enemy is in charge in Kabul, there is no other way to describe it – it is the cumulative effect of 20 years,” he mentioned, including that the lesson wanted to be realized. together with whether or not the US navy made Afghans extremely depending on US know-how in a false try and make the Afghan military appear like the US navy.
On future threats and al-Qaeda
General Milley acknowledged the opportunity of future threats to the US from a reorganized al-Qaeda or Afghan ISIS. There is “a very real possibility” that Afghanistan associates of al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group might regroup in Afghanistan underneath Taliban rule and current a terroristic menace to the United States within the subsequent 12 to 36 months.
Afghanistan was used as a base by al-Qaeda to plan and execute its assaults on the United States on September 11, 2001, which triggered the US invasion of Afghanistan a month later. Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahri, who took energy after the assassination of Osama bin Laden, appeared in a brand new video marking the twentieth anniversary of September 11.
Screengrab of a video displaying al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahri at an undisclosed location in a videotape launched in September 2006. (AP)
“And we must remember that the Taliban was and still is a terrorist organization and they still haven’t severed ties with al-Qaeda,” Milley mentioned. “I have no illusions as to who we are dealing with. It remains to be seen whether the Taliban is able to consolidate power or whether the country will break into civil war further.”
Defense Secretary Austin mentioned stopping future threats from Afghanistan can be “difficult but absolutely possible” with out troops on the bottom.
Milley defends name to Chinese at finish of Trump presidency
General Milley additionally reacted to the criticism, after which he reported making two calls to General Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army, to reassure him that the United States was not going to all of the sudden go to battle or assault China. In a vigorous protection of the 2 calls to his Chinese counterpart, Milley mentioned he was responding to a “significant level of intelligence” that China was involved a few US assault.
“I know, I am sure, that President Trump did not intend to attack China and it is my directed responsibility … to convey that intention to the Chinese,” General Mark Milley testified as his Chinese counterpart Calls had been common. https://t.co/utdRqW8IK7 pic.twitter.com/ISWS14pFIU
— ABC News Politics (@ABCpolitics) September 28, 2021
“I know, I am sure, that President Trump did not intend to attack China. … and it was my directed responsibility to convey that intention to the Chinese,” Milley advised the Senate Armed Services Committee. Told. “My job at the time was to de-escalate. My message was again consistent: stay calm, stay calm and de-stress. We’re not going to attack you.”
Details of the decision had been first circulated in excerpts from the not too long ago launched e book Peril by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
